A Most Important Book for Our People and Others
By George Ide Butler
What book is that? I answer unhesitatingly, “The Great Second Advent Movement.” It was written by Elder J. N. Loughborough, one of the oldest pioneers of this message now living. It is his monumental work, the most important of all the books that he has written, and he has been a leading laborer in this message for over half a century. Elder Loughborough is one of our laborers who has a special gift in preserving important statistics and many interesting facts worth keeping in remembrance. He is by nature a worthy historian. During all the long period of his ministry he has been gathering up the materials which have entered into this volume. All our aged brethren and sisters know this. For years he has been sent to various fields to preach the facts connected with the rise of this message. We know of no other man among us who is so well prepared to do this work. From the first, he has been a faithful, devoted laborer in this cause, and always true to the message. This volume is more than a history of what we call the third angel’s message. It goes back to the first dawnings of the light in regard to the soon coming of Christ our Lord and Saviour the second time. It is a great historical fact, account for it as we may, that in various parts of the globe, and wholly independent of one another, men have risen up, proclaiming the proximity of the second coming of Christ. Among these were Joseph Wolff in large portions of Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, from 1831 and onward; Bengel and others in Germany; Irving was zealous in preaching this doctrine in Great Britain; and a large number of others labored for the same object. William Miller and three hundred other ministers gave the cheering message of Christ’s soon coming in America; yea, to every missionary station on the globe. Should not the Adventist believers in this message desire to know about these interesting facts? The third angel’s message, which succeeded the first and second, arose in feebleness and obscurity. It had to struggle against difficulties apparently greater than has any other movement ever known. The doctrines that it taught were despised by the masses because of the great disappointment in 1844, and because of the unpopular Sabbath and kindred truths. But in spite of these its progress has been onward and upward, doubling in numbers and resources every ten years of its history till the present time, and still it is onward, and will be until the earth is “lightened with his glory.” Can it be possible that any intelligent Seventh-day Adventist has no desire to know anything about the history of the religious movement of which he is a part? This volume is a grand storehouse of knowledge concerning the history of Adventism, and yet there are many who seem indifferent to it, although it is the history of their own work, its rise and progress and rapid completion. Other denominations are deeply interested in the history of their church. The Baptists have excellent historical volumes of the history of their church. So do the Methodists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Catholics, and other denominations. Shall Adventists be less interested in the glorious second advent messages, the most important movement of these last days? Brethren and sisters, you need this blessed volume. You all ought to have it in your libraries. You ought to be conversant with every point in the history of this people. In every one of our institutions of learning for adults this book ought to be a classic, and all our young people should know the facts of our history. Most marvelous events have characterized the rise and progress of this movement. Nothing for ages in the past has been so wonderful. God has favored us as a people by placing among us one who has had visions of God’s work in the earth in these last days. If our young people would study the facts presented in this volume, they would not be so easily led astray as many of them are now. They would be settled, grounded, rooted, and established. Much of our weakness as a people rises from a lack of a knowledge of the facts related in this book. This is not a volume to be carelessly read and laid aside. He who has these facts so worked into his memory that they are ever at his command, is invulnerable to the doubts that trouble so many. Shrewd men are making every effort to break down faith in this blessed cause. Let our people wake up and know the history of the movement that has made us aware of the approach of our blessed Lord. We appeal to our people individually to buy this volume, carefully peruse it, and study the blessed facts contained in it. Appropriate it, and help others to see its importance. This book was first published by the Southern Publishing Association. The sales have not been what we had hoped they would be. It has been thought that the Review and Herald Publishing Association would be better prepared to circulate it than the Southern house because of the greater constituency and the greater agencies for bringing it before the people generally. The Southern house, though receiving no pecuniary benefit therefrom, is anxious to see the book circulated, for the good that it will do. We do not think by any means that the sales of this precious book should be confined to our own people. It would10do any candid person good to read it. It would convince any person of candor that this advent movement is no fanatical affair, no passing humbug. It is the most striking movement of the religious world to-day, founded on the greatest volume of Scripture evidence and authority ever quoted by any denomination. The coming of Christ the second time is the greatest event that can ever occur in the history of mankind. Christ’s second coming closes up the reign of sin and rebellion which has cursed the universe for six thousand years. It will finally destroy Satan and sin, and bring about a clean universe. It will result in the salvation of all the righteous, and the destruction of all incorrigible sinners, Satan included. It is a most glorious event, longed for and desired by all the holy men of God. Will not the reading of the history of this movement which deals with that glorious consummation, be of benefit to any candid man of any faith? We believe it will. Bring it before all candid people everywhere. We long to see it going forth by thousands of volumes in all directions.